 St. Nicholas of Flüe
Name: St. Nicholas of Flüe
Date: 31 March
Saint Nicholas of Flue was born in Switzerland of pious parents. One day, when he saw an arrowlaunched on a neighboring mountain, he was filled with a desire for Heaven and with love forsolitude. He married, to obey the formal will of his parents; he and his wife Dorothy became theparents of ten children. His merit and virtue caused him to be chosen by his fellow citizens toexercise very honorable public functions. He was fifty years old when an interior voice said to him: “Leave everything you love, and God willtake care of you.” He had to undergo a distressing combat, but decided finally to leave everything— wife, children, house, lands — to serve God. He left, barefooted, clothed in a long robe ofcoarse fabric, in his hand a rosary, without money or provisions, casting a final tender and prolongedgaze on his loved ones. His habitual prayer was this: “My Lord and my God, remove from me allthat can prevent me from going to You. My Lord and my God, give me all that can draw me toYou.” One night God penetrated the hermit with a brilliant light, and from that time on he never againexperienced hunger, thirst or cold. Having found a wild and solitary place, he dwelt there for a timein a hut of leaves, later in a cabin built with stones. The news of his presence, when it spread,brought him a great influx of visitors. Distinguished persons came to him for counsel in matters ofgreat importance. It may seem incredible that the holy hermit lived for nineteen years only by theHoly Eucharist; the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, startled by this fact, had his cabin surveyed andverified this fact as being beyond question. When Switzerland for a moment was divided and threatened with civil war in 1480, Saint Nicholasof Flue, venerated by all, was chosen as arbiter, to prevent the shedding of blood. He spoke sowisely that a union was reached, to the joy of all concerned, and the nation was saved. Bells wereset ringing all over the country, and the concerted jubilation echoed across the lakes, mountains andvalleys, from the most humble cottage to the largest cities. At the age of 70, Saint Nicholas fell ill with a very painful sickness which tormented him for eightdays and nights without overcoming his patience. He was beatified in 1669 by Pope Clement IX,canonized in 1947, by Pope Pius XII. |
